A HAMPSHIRE policeman left permanently brain damaged after a lorry drove into the back of his unmarked car has won massive compensation at London's High Court.

Stewart Vasey, 40, suffered "catastrophic injuries" in the accident a year after his wedding and just three weeks before his son was born.

The detective constable, of Fletcher Close, Dibden, was working undercover on November 2, 1998 and had pulled onto the hard shoulder of the M27 on the Hamble Bridge when the accident happened.

His unmarked Volkswagen Golf police car was struck by a lorry driven by Frenchman Jean Milan-Amady.

Through his wife Ann he sued the lorry driver and French trucking firm, Bellencontre Transportes, whose insurers admitted liability for the crash.

Describing the accident as "tragic", Mr Justice Newman yesterday approved a final settlement of Mr Vasey's case.

Although the amount of compensation was not announced in court, his solicitor later described the award as "very significant". In similar cases damages have run into several million pounds.

After the hearing Mrs Vasey, who is still an officer for Hampshire police, said: "No amount of money will ever restore Stewart's health and wellbeing. However, today's decision helps bring to an end the trauma and uncertainty that has been a feature of our lives since the crash, and gives us some security for the future.

"I would like to express my thanks to our legal team and our relief at the reasonable attitude adopted by the insurers involved in the case."

Frank Burton QC, acting for Mrs Vasey, told the judge the compensation would pay for Mr Vasey's full-time care in a private institution in Newcastle, as well as providing for Mrs Vasey and their four-year-old son George.

Mr Vasey, who was 36 and working at the Hulse Road crime unit in Southampton at the time of the accident, only sometimes recognises his wife.

He will need constant nursing care for the rest of his life, has speech problems, very poor co-ordination, feels disorientated most of the time and needs help to wash and dress.

Mr Burton said Mrs Vasey and George regularly visit Mr Vasey in Newcastle, where he has other family in the area.

He said everyone is very happy with the institution where he is being cared for.

Earlier this year, lorry driver Milan-Amady admitted a charge of careless driving at Fareham Magistrates' Court and was given nine points on his British licence, fined £250 and ordered to pay £100 costs.

He told the court he thought Mr Vasey's car was about to pull out from the hard shoulder onto the eastbound carriageway and had to swerve to avoid it.